textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1155 PM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

- Winter weather conditions will continue now through Sunday morning with further snowfall accumulations ranging from a low of 2 to 4 inches for the northwest up to 7 to 9 inches for the southeast.

- Moderate to major winter weather impacts, especially for travel, are expected this evening into Sunday morning when the heaviest snowfall is expected.

- Extremely cold wind chill values are expected now through Sunday morning and again on Monday morning.

- Temperatures below freezing may remain across portions of the Panhandles through at least early next week.

SHORT TERM

(Tonight through Sunday night) Issued at 1155 PM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

Bottom Line: A significant winter system is impacting the panhandles and will bring snow across the panhandles with the worst hit areas being the southern and eastern panhandles. Bitterly cold temperatures can quickly cause hypothermia and frost bite for the next couple of days.

What is shaping up to be a significant winter system is already impacting the panhandles. Currently the panhandles is under mainly a seeder feeder setup which is producing mainly light snow. This is where mid to upper level clouds are dropping ice crystals into the low level clouds. These ice crystals then feed off the low level clouds to generate the snow grains. This is resulting in low accumulation rates of snow across large swaths of the panhandles. The first round of more significant snow comes mid this morning with the increasing strength of the upper jet and a small wave within the jet's flow. Both of these features will provide lift across the panhandles allowing for bands of moderate to heavy snow to form. These bands will be capable of producing several inches of snow. There still remains a fair amount of uncertainty with where exactly the heaviest of these bands will move across. Currently it is still most likely for these bands to stay south of the TX panhandle in north central TX. This would leave the panhandles with the moderate snow bands that will produce lesser snow amounts. Still there is a moderate chance that the heavier bands are more northerly displaced which would lead to greater snow amounts. The difference being that the moderate bands will most likely lead to 1 to 2 inches while the heaviest bands can produce upwards of 4 inches. Regardless of what intensity of snow we see during the mid morning the upper level support from the jet and wave will wane going into the later mid morning hours. This will revert the panhandles back to a light snow intensity mainly caused from the deep and extensive cloud layer. This light snow will slowly add to the snow totals through the rest of the morning and the afternoon hours. This morning will be bitterly cold with lows in the positive to negative single digits panhandles wide. While the winds may not be that strong they will still cause the wind chills to drop into the negative single digits to negative teens. This afternoon wont fair much better with the temperatures climbing at best into the lower tens with the wind chills in the negative single digits.

This evening into early Sunday morning the upper level portion of the winter system moves across the southern plains. This will provide another round of lift that will allow the formation of moderate to heavy snow bands. Just like this morning there remains some uncertainty in the placement of the heaviest snow bands with a more southerly placement currently favored. This would keep the heavies snow bands to the south in the north central portions of TX while the panhandles stays with the moderate snow bands. That being said these snow bands will be the zenith of the winter system by being the biggest snow producers. The highest snow accumulations from these snow bands will be in the southeastern panhandles where 4 to 7 inches of snow may fall. The amounts drop off to the NW with the central panhandles seeing 2 to 5 inches from these bands. The far NW corner will most likely get little snowfall of a few tenths to 2 inches of snow. There is a low chance for these amounts to be higher IF the heavier snow bands are more northerly displaced. This evening into Sunday morning will remain bitterly cold with overnight lows once again going down to the positive to negative single digits. Likewise the winds chills will be very low down in the negative single digits to negative teens.

The total remaining snow amounts for this system is showing a significant gradient from the NW to the SE. For the NW where it is driest the remaining snow totals is around 1 to 2 inches. Across the central panhandles, in a SW to NE fashion, the remaining snow totals are 2 to 6 inches. For the harder hit SE portion of the panhandles 6 to 9 inches is most likely for remaining snow totals. These amounts can go higher IF we are impacted by the heavier snow bands in both this morning and this night. Likewise snow amounts can drop if the snow favors a more souther trajectory. While the chance for either of these is low, the higher snow amounts has higher chance of occurring than the lower snow amounts.

The weather system departs Sunday morning which will see the snow decrease through the mid morning hours. The later morning and afternoon hours have a low chance of seeing continued snow flurries that will not add much further accumulations. The evening of Sunday a small wave moves through the panhandles bringing a small burst of snow that can produce a few more tenths of an inch. This would be the last of the snow with drier conditions setting up for the panhandles. Sunday will likely be warmer as the cold air shifts away from the region, however temperatures may be colder than forecasted depending on prior snow amounts.

All this snow will have a high chance of causing travel impacts across the panhandles. The worst travel conditions will most likely occur with the heaviest snow this evening into Sunday morning. Travel will be treacherous if not impossible, especially for the southern and eastern Panhandles. This hazardous travel will impact Interstate 40, Interstate 27, highway 287, and highway 60. Snow covered roads should be expected along with low visibility due to falling snow and wind driven snow. Thankfully, winds will not be very strong, only around 10-15 mph or less, but with the snow being on the drier side it will not take much wind to blow it around while falling. If you are planning to travel strongly consider staying home or finding an alternate route.

The bitterly cold temperatures can rapidly lead to hypothermia to any person, pet, or animal without shelter or heat. Any exposed skin can quickly develop frost bite in these very cold temperatures. Protect yourself and others by dressing accordingly and making sure all have a warm place to rest.

LONG TERM

(Monday through next Friday) Issued at 1155 PM CST Fri Jan 23 2026

The work week week is shaping up to be a period of drier and warmer conditions for the panhandles as a broad NW flow sets up. This would shunt the coldest air to the east but also prevent any moisture from arriving in the southern plains. However conditions can remain colder depending heavily on just how much snow we get from the current winter system. The more snow we have the more likely we are to remain colder longer into the work week. There is hints that a small weather system may pass across the southern plains towards next weekend which can bring another brief push of colder air. What other impacts this system can produce remain uncertain at this time.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 528 AM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

As of early this morning, present radar and observations were reporting snow at all terminals by KGUY. Snow showers are expected to be off and on for the terminals all day, with both ceilings and visibility bouncing between MVFR and IFR conditions. A small lull may be seen during the afternoon. However, a much stronger second round is expected to follow later tonight around 3 UTC. This round could see bands of heavy snowfall set up with terminals like KAMA staying well below airport minimums for the overnight. However, there is still some uncertainty in the these bands with present CAMs now shifting them south out of KAMA area once again.

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Sunday for TXZ001-006.

Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for TXZ001>003- 006>008-011-012-016-017-317.

Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Sunday for TXZ002>005- 007>020-317.

Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST Sunday for TXZ004-005-009- 010-013>015-018>020.

OK...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Sunday for OKZ001.

Cold Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for OKZ001-002.

Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Sunday for OKZ002-003.

Extreme Cold Warning until noon CST Sunday for OKZ003.